Fabric guide for measuring machines



-E. T. NUGENT. FABRIC GUIDE FOR MEASURING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1920. 1,409,567. P3Q d Mar- 14, 1 2

Aug/.9

E. T. NUGENT.-

FABRIC GUIDE FOR MEASURING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26,1920.

1,409,567 Patented Mar- 14, 1922.

. 3 SHEETS-SHE 2.

E. T. NU'GENT.

FABRIC GUIDE FOR MEASURING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JULY 26.1920.

Ifiuenlor- Edwin 7*. W nt- AtZj/s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDEVIN '1. NUGENT, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE MEASUREGRAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF- DELAWARE.

FABRIC GUIDE FOR MEASURING 'MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 26, 1920. Serial No. 399,005.

To (LZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I EDWIN T. Nuonn'r, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fabric Guides for Measuring Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fabric measuring or cost computing machines. These machines usually include a measuring roller across which the fabric is pulled, the fabric being pressed lightly against the measuring roller by a presser roller. In some types of these machines the presser roller is disposed above the measuring roller; in pulling the fabric between the rollers sometimes the operator of the machine pulls upwardly on the fabric in such a way that it tends to pull the presser roller away from the measuring roller against the action of the spring that holds it down. In this way the pressure on the measuring roller is relieved. as a result of which an inaccurate measuring movement is imparted from the measuring roller to the indicating mechanism that indi cates the length of the fabric or the cost of the piece measured.

The general object of the present invention is to overcome this difiiculty and to provide such a measuring instrument with means to insure that no matter how carelessly the fabric is pulled through the machine, there will be no tendency for the fabric to pull the presser roller away from the measuring roller. Machines of this type also usually include a tame which carries the presser roller and means is prorided for latching this presser roller frame in an elevated position so that the presser roller is held raised or away from the measuring roller. The presser roller is held raised in this when the fabric is being introduced into the space between the rollers. v In one form of my invention I provide a.

guise-member for the fabric which is mounted so that it is capable of a lateral movement and I utilize this lateral movement to effect the release of the presser roller to permit the presser roller to come against the measuring roller. One of my objects is to provide a construction of this kind in'which this. guide-member is substantially in line with the marking device or knife, that marks the edge of the movable presser roller forward edge of the fabric with the mark mg knife in order to secure an accurate measurement. According to my invention this movable guiding-member performs the double function of a guiding-member and an operatlng lever or thumb plate for releasing the presser roller, and at the same time it is insubstantial alinement with the plane of movement of the knife to insure an accurate measurement.

A further object of the invention is to provide means operating in such a way that if an excessive tension or pull is exerted in pulling the fabric between the rollers the rotation of the measuring roller will be automatically stopped.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel features, and in the general combination of parts to be particularly described herein after, all of which contribute to produce a simple and efficient fabric guide for measuring machines. A preferred embodiment of my invention will be particularly described in the following specification, while the broad scope of my invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan of a fabric measuring machine to which my invention has been applied;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 and illustrating the simplest embodiment of the invention;

Figure at is a side elevation partially broken away and illustrating another embodiment of the invention;

Figure is a vertical section through the machine taken about on the line 55 of Figure l, the upper portion of the casing of the machine being omitted;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken about along the line 66 of Figure 4 and partially illustrating the parts associated with the presser roller;

Figure 7 is a perspective particularly illustrating a detail of the latch mechanism that may hold the presser roller elevated;

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.-

' in the measuring operation.

tween the rollersas indicated by the dotted Figures 2 and 8, and comprises a measuring roller 2 which, if desired may be mounted in thelower portion of the casingand so that its upper face projects into a horizontal gap 3 throughwhich the fabric is drawn Above the measuring roller'a presser roller l'is movably mounted and this presser roller is carried on a presser roller frame 5. The presser roller may be held raised so as to permit the fabric to be passed into the space beline 6. It should be understood that the fabric'is pulled through the machinein the direction of the arrow and before beginning the'operation of the machine the'forward edge of the fabric is properly alined, and

vthe presser roller 4; is permitted to come against the face of the measuring roller. With this construction it will be evident that '5 if the operator in pulling the fabric between curate measurement.

presser roller. 7 a contact between the fabric'and the measurthe rollers, pulls upwardly instead of hori-- zontally, there is a tendency for the fabric to raise the presser rollers away from the;

measuring roller 2 and this will give an inac- Inorder to overcome this defect l provide guiding means preferably in the form of two guide members 7 and 8 (Fig. which in the present embodiment of the invention are fixed bars secured to the frame'9 of the machine, one on each sideof the measuring roller and so that they project down into the gill) The lower edges or, guide faces 10 of these guide mem- V hers are disposed below the plane of tangencytbetween the rollers 2 and 4. That is to say, in the present instance they project below the upper face of the measuring roller. Nith'this construction it will be evident that when a pullis exerted upon the fabric-6 the guide members 7 and 8 will operate" to maintain the fabric in contact with the measuring roller and prevent it from exerting any upward pressure upon the This will insure a constant ing roller and insure accuracy of merit-.7.

In machines of this type the presser roller frame 5 may be held elevated by means of a latch 11, see Figure 2, which co-operates with the frame in the manner illustrated in Figure 7. I mount one of the guide members so that it is laterally movable and disposed adjacent to the lever of a latch such as the latch 11 so that a movement of the guide member will operate to release the presser roller frame and permit the presser roller to come against the measuring roller.

1 also prefer to mount the opposite guide memberso that it is movable in case an excessive pull is made upon the fabric and I utilize the movement which would then be given to this guide member to stop the rotation of the measuring roller. 7 v

Theseimprovements will now be described, referring specially to Figures 4; to 8 inclusive. In these figures 12 represents the casing of the machine in the lower portion of which a measuring roller 13 is rotatably mounted, theupper face of the measuring roller projecting into a gap 14: which is formed horizontally through the lower portion of the casing. A presser roller 15 is rotatably mounted on a presser roller frame 16. This frame is in the form of a rocker bar' 17, the ends of which areformed into trunnions 18 rotatably mounted in a main vertical frame-plate 19 andv an end frame plate 20. Resilient means is provided for forcing the presser rollertoward the measuring roller. This means is preferably in the form of two springs 21' associated with the presser roller frame. These springs may be attached to short arms 22cprojecting from the bar 17 in an oppositejdirection from.

the presser roller 15 The springs normally operate to hold the presser roller 15 down so that it presses the fabric 23, (see Figure 5,) against the face of the measuringroller.

The guiding means in this instance comprises a guide member 24 disposed on one side of the'm asuring roller and a guide member 25 disposed on the oppositeside of the measuring roller, projecting downward into the gap, 14, see Figure 5, so that the guide members operate under the tension or pull in the fabric to pull the fabric down against the measuring roller andprevent its exerting an upward pressure on the presser roller; such an upward pressure would have the effect of relaxing the pressure of the fabric on the measuring roller and produce inaccuracies in measuring. Themachine in cludes detent means for holding or latching the presser roller raised and away from the measuring roller. For this purpose the rocker bar 17 is provided with a laterally projecting arm 26, see Figures 5 and 6, and co-operating with this arm I provide 'detent meansin the form of a pivoted latch 27, see

Figure 7. The upper portionof this-latch is in the form of a horizontal arm which extends rearwardly, the rear end of which 15 attached by a pivot pin 28 to a bracket 29,

see Figures 4 and 5. The forward end of the latch extends downwardly and has a shoulder 30 which is adapted to engage over the arm 26 when the same is depressed. Below the shoulder 30 the latch is off-set laterally and carries a downward extension 31 which lies in a pocket or recess 32 formed in the side of the casing 12. (See Figure 4.) To the latch 27 is attached a small spring 33 (see Figure 5) which tends to move the latch 27 in a direction to engage the arm 26 and hold the presser roller elevated. I provide for actuating this latch 27 by moving the extension 31 through the medium of the guide member 24 for the fabric, which is located on this side of the measuring roller. For this purpose I construct theguide member 24 in the form of an elongated plate or bar 34, see Figure 4, which is provided with a sleeve 35 carried on a pivot pin 36 in the upper part of the pocket 32 so that theguide member is simply suspended in the pocket with the rear face of the guide member lying adjacent to the lower .end of the extension 31. The lower end of the extension 31 is offset forwardly so as to form a foot 31" touching the rear face of the guide bar 34. As is usual in machines of this type the presser roller frame may be locked or latched automatically in its raised position by the operation of the marking means or a cutter which marks the edge of the fabric at the point where it is to be cut off. For this purpose a knife lever 37 is provided mounted on a pivot 38, see Figure 4, and carrying a knife 39 which oo-operates with a fixed knife 40 to slit or notch the edge of the fabric. This knife lever may be operated at will by pressing on a thumb plate 41 carried by the end of the knife lever and running in an arcuate slot 42 in the side of the casing. The knife lever is provided with an edge 43 into the path of which the end of the arm 26 pro jects so that when the knife lever 37 is depressed it also depresses the arm 26 until the same passes below the shoulder 30, where upon the spring 33 snaps the latch to the left and engages the shoulder 30 over the upper side of the arm 26. Evidently by pressing inward on plate 24 the extension 31 will be moved so as to swing the latch toward the right and thereby disengage the shoulder 30 from the arm 26. In making the meas urements with a machine of this type the operator must take care that the forward edge of the fabric is properly alined with the shears orknife 39 or inaccuracies in measurement will result. In order to insure that this will occur I provide the lower portion of the casing 12 with a deep pocket or recess 44 which receives the tips of the fingers of the hand which grasps the forward edge of the fabric in positioning the same between the rollers. This pocket 44 lies opposite to the measuring roller and opposite to the pocket 32 in the side of the casing already referred to. The movable guide member 24 is substantially in line with the inner portion of these'pockets and also lies substantially in the plane of movement of the shears 39, 40.

So far as the operation of the mechanism just described, is concerned, the guide member 25 may be considered as relatively fixed; however, I prefer to mount the guide member 25 so that it may move under an excessive tension exerted in the fabric and I provide means actuated by it for stopping the rotation of the measuring roller.

For this purpose the guide member 25 is in the form of an elongated bar, see Figures 5 and 8, the ends of which are provided with rigid stems 45 which are guided on the frame to slide in suitable guide sleeves 46. Springs 47 are provided which thrust against collars 48 rigid on the stems so that these springs 47 resist an upward movement of the bar 25.

The measuring roller 13 has a shaft 49 which extends through the aforesaid main frame plate 19 and carries a rigid stop wheel 50, see Figure 9. On the side of the frame plate 19 I mount means for engaging the stop wheel 50 and this means is actuated by the guide member 25. This means is preferably in the form of a shoe 51 having a serrated arcuate edge adapted to engage a similar serrated edge on the stop wheel 50. This shoe 51 is guided to move vertically by means of a vertical slot 52 through which guide pins or screws pass. These screws attach the shoe to the face of the plate 19. Any suitable means may be provided for connecting this shoe to the guide member 25. This is preferably accomplished by making a connection through the plate 19 for which purpose the plate is provided with a vertical slot 54, see Figure 9, and the adjacent end of the guide member 25 is provided with a pin 55 which extends through the slot and engages a horizontal arm 56 which constitutes the upper portion of the shoe. W'ith this construction it will be'evident that if an excessive pull is exerted upon the fabric the springs 47 will be compressed. permitting the bar 25 to move upwardly thereby effecting an engagement of the shoe 51 with the serrated edge of the stop wheel 50. This will stop the rotation of the measuring roller.

The indicating mechanism may include a dial 57 to indicate yard fractions and inches, and also includes two charts 58 and 59, see Figure 5, which are normally wrapped in a superposed position upon a drum 60. This drum carries a spring 61 which tends to rotate the drum in a direction to take up the slack in the webs or charts 58 and 59. The upper ends of these charts are wrapped on take-up rollers 61, the shafts 62 of which project through the main frame plate 19 and carry gear wheels 63 which are driven by an idler (34;. This idler is driven through a suitable reduction driving gear train 65, the first gear 66 of which is driven by a pinion 67 carried by the shaft 4:9 of the measuring roller see Figure9. Any suitable means may be employed for driving the hand 57 of the dial 57. As this mechanism forms no part of this invention and is not related thereto the same is not illustrated. i

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is only one of the many embodiments my invention may take, and I do not wish to be limited in the practice of my invention nor in my claims, tothe' particular embodiment set forth.

What I cla m is:

1. In a fabric measuring machine, the

combination of ameasuring roller, a movably mounted presser roller adjacent to the measuring roller, means for resiliently forcing the presser roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same, detent means for holding the presser roller away from the measuring roller to permit the fabricto be placed between the rollers, guiding means including a laterally movable guide member, and means operated by the guide member when moved laterally by hand, to release the detent means, said guide member operating under the tension in the fabric, to. guide the fabric toward the measuring roller and away from the presser'rolleri 2. Inga fabric measuring machine, 1 the combination of a measuring roller, a movably mounted presser roller adj acent the" measuring roller, means for resiliently forein'g the presser roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same,

detent means forholding the presser roller away from the measuring roller to permit the fabric to be placedbetween the rollers, guiding means including laterally movable guide member on one side of the measuring roller, and another guide member on the other side of the measuring roller, means operated by the laterally movable guide, member when moved laterally by hand to release the detent means, to permit thev presser roller to move against the measuring roller, said guide members operating under the tension in thefabric to guide the fabric toward the measuring roller and away from the presser roller.

3, In a fabric measuring machine, thecombination of a measuring roller, a movably mounted presser roller adjacent the measuring roller, means for resiliently forcing the presser roller toward the measuring roller tojhold the fabric against the same,

detent means for holding the presser roller away from the measurlng roller to permit the fabric to be placed between the rollers,

guiding means including a pivotally mounted member movable on its pivot in a substantially horizontal direction and locombination of a' measuring roller, a movably mounted presser roller' adjacent the measuring roller, means for resiliently forcv ing the p'resser roller toward the measuring roller tofhold the fabric against the same, detent means for holding the presser roller away from the measuring roller to permit the fabric to be placed between the rollers, including a pivotally mounted latch, guiding means including [a laterally movable guidemember operating" when moved laterally by hand, to actuate the latch and. permit 7 the presser roller to move against the measuring roller, said guide-member operating un der the tension in the fabric to guide the fabric toward the measurmg roller and away from the presser roller.

5. In;.a fabric measuring 'machine, the combination of a measur ng roller, a m'ovablymounted presser roller adjacent the measuring roller, meansfor resiliently forcing the resser roller toward the measuring. roller-to hold the fabric against the same,

detent means for holding the presser roller away from the measuring roller to permit the fabric to be placed between the rollers, said. detent meansconsisting of a'pivotally mounted latch, guiding means including pivotally mounted guide member located on one side of the measuring roller and adjacent to the latch movable by hand, for operating the detent means to permit the presser roller to move against the measuring roller, said guiding meansincluding a relatively fixed guide member on the other side of the measuring. roller, said guide members operating under the tension in the fabric to guide the fabric toward the'measuring roller and away from the pres'ser. roller. 7 V

- 6. Ina fabric measuring machine,. the combination of a measuring roller, a oresser .roller cooperating therewith,v means ior resiliently forcing the presser'roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same, and guiding means for theffabric including a movable guide'membenlocated so as to be moved by an excessive tension in the fabric in pulling the same between the rollers, and means actuated thereby for preventing rotation of the measuring roller.

7. In a fabric measuring machine, the combinat on ofa measuring roller, a presser roller co-operating therewith. means for resiliently forcing the presser roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same, a stop wheelmounted to rotate with the measuring roller, gulding means for the fabric including a movable member located so as to be moved by an. excessive tension in the fabric in pulling the same between the rollers, and means actuated thereby for engaging the stop wheel to lock the measuring roller against rotation.

8. In a fabric measuring machine, the

combination of a measuring roller, a presser roller co-operating therewith, means for re siliently forcing the presser roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same, av stop wheel rigid with the measuring roller, uiding means for the fabric including a movable guide member located so as to be moved by an excessive tension-in the fabric in pulling the same between the rollers, a shoe for engaging the stop wheel to lock the measuring roller against rotation, and means actuated by the movable guide member for moving the shoe against the stop wheel, I I

9. In a fabric measuring machine, the combination of a measuring roller, a presser roller co-operating therewith, means for resiliently forcing the presser roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same, a guide member for the fabric, meansforguiding the guide member to permit the same to be moved by an excessive tension in the fabric in pulling the same be tween the rollers, and means actuated by the movement of the, guide member for looking the measuring roller against rotation.

10. In a fabric measuring machine, the combination of a inleasuring roller, amovably mounted presser roller adjacent the measuring roller, means for resiliently forcing the presser roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same, detent means for holding the presser roller away from the measuring roller to permit the fabric to be placed between the rollers, guiding means including a laterally movable guide member, means operated thereby when moved laterally, to release the detent means, said guiding means also including a second guide member on the other side of the measuring roller, means for guiding the second guide member to permit it to be moved by excessive tension of the fabric in pulling the same between the rollers, and means actuated by the second guide member to lock the measuring roller against rotation.

11. In a fabric measuring machine, the combination of a measuring roller, a presser roller co-operating therewith, a guide bar located at one side of the measuring roller, means for guiding the guide bar to permit the same to be moved laterally under an excessive tension in the fabric in pulling the same between the rollers, resilient means associated with the'guide bar to permit the same to be moved laterally by the fabric, and means actuated by the guide bar when moved by the fabric for locking the measuring roller againstrotation.

l2.-In a fabric measuring machine, the combination of a frame including a substantially vertical frame plate, a measuring roller rotatably supported by the frame plate, a presser'roller co-operating therewith, a. guide bar located at one side of the measuring roller, means for guiding the guide bar on the frame to permit the same to be moved laterally under an excessive tension in the fabric in'pulling the same between the rollers, resilient means associated with the guide bar to vpermit the same to be moved by the fabric, means mounted on the frameplate for locking the measuring roller against rotation and aconnection between the same and the guide bar to enable, the guide bar to stop the measuring roller if the guide bar is moved laterally by the tension ofthe fabric.

13. In a fabric measuring machine, the combination of a frame including a substantially. vertical frame plate, a measuring roller rotatably supported by the frame plate, a presserroller co-operating therewith, a guide bar located at one side of the measuring roller, means for guiding. the guide bar in the frame to permit the same to be moved laterally under an excessive tension in the fabric in pulling the same between the rollers, resilient means associated with the guide bar to permit the same to be movedby the fabric, a shoemounted on the frame plate for locking the measuring roller against rotation and connected with the guide bar through the frame plate, whereby a lateral movement of the guide bar by the tension of the fabric will actuate the shoe to stop the measuring roller.

14. In a fabric measuring machine, the combination of a measuring roller, a movably mounted presser roller adjacent the measuring roller, means for resiliently forcing the presser roller toward the measuring roller to hold the fabric against the same, detent means for holding the presser roller away from the measuring roller and consisting of a pivoted latch having a downward extension for operating the same, guiding means including a laterally movable guide member pivotally supported and capable of being swung inwardly to push the said extension and operate the detent means to release the presser roller and permit the same to move against the measuring roller, said guide member operating under the tension in the fabric to guide the fabric away from he presser roller and thereby prevent the member operating under the tension of the fabric to press the fabric away from the presser roller and toward the measuring roller, said movable guide member operating to move the latch to release the presser roller frame therefrom, and marking means for marking the edge of the fabric and located substantially in line with the movable guide member. I

16. In a fabric measuring machine, the

I combination of a casing having a pocket in the side thereof, a measuring roller mounted in the casing opposite the pocket, a presser roller, a presser roller frame carrying the presser roller, a spring associated therewith to force the presser roller toward the measuring roller, a latch co-operating with the presser rollerframe to latch the same in an elevated position with the presser roller away from the measuring roller, and a guide-member movabl mounted in said pocket, for moving sai latch to release the presser roller frame from the latch, and operating as a guide for the fabric to prevent the tension in the fabric from exerting an upward pressure on the presser roller.

17. In a fabric measuring machine, the

combination of a casing having a pocket in the side thereof, a measuring roller mounted in the casing opposite the pocket, a presser roller, a presser roller frame carrying the presser roller, a spring associated therewith to force the presser roller toward the measuring roller, a latch co-operating with the presser roller frame to latch the same in an elevated position with, the presser roller away from the'measuring roller, said latch having an extension lying in said pocket, a guide member movably mounted in said pocket to engage the extension and operate the latch, and thereby release the presser roller frame from the latch, said guide mem ber operating as a guide for the fabric to prevent the tension in the fabric from exerting an upward pressure on the presser roller.

18. In a fabric measuring machine, the combination of a measuring roller, a presser roller co-operating therewith, I means for forcing the presser'roller toward the measuring roller to press the fabric against the face of the measuring roller, a latch for holding the presser roller away from the measuring roller, a marking lever for marking the edge of the fabric, a movable guide member mounted substantially in the plane of movement of the marking lever and operating when moved-laterally to release the latch to permit the presser roller to move against the measuring roller, said guide member operating under the tension in the fabric to pull the same against the measuring roller and away from the presser roller.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWIN VT. NUGENT. 

